Clash of the African titans set for women’s 1500m in Italy next month
Clash of the African titans set for Italy athletics meeting
JOHANNESBURG, May 27 (ANA) – African-born Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Kenyan Faith Kipyegon will battle it out in the women’s 1500m at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, a Wanda Diamond League meeting, on June 10.
The double world champion Hassan and Olympic gold medallist Kipyegon will headline the event in Italy.
Hassan opened her season with a 14:35.34 5000m and 2:01.54 800m in the USA earlier this month and in Italy she will race over the distance at which she set the meeting record of 3:56.22 in 2017.
The Dutch world 1500m and 5000m gold medallist will face Kenya’s 2017 world 1500m champion Kipyegon, who claimed 2019 world silver behind Hassan in Doha, plus Kenya’s world 3000m steeplechase record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech, who improved the world 5km record in February, and Britain’s European 1500m champion Laura Muir.
The 28-year-old Hassan was born in Adama, Ethiopia, and left the East African nation as a refugee in 2008 at age 15.
Kipyegon, 27, won gold in the women’s 1500m at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and at the 2017 World Championships in London.
Athletes previously announced for the meeting include Malaika Mihambo, Ivana Spanovic, Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, Caterine Ibarguen, Khaddi Sagnia and Larissa Iapichino in the women’s long jump. The men’s shot put includes Tom Walsh, Tomas Stanek, Leonardo Fabbri, Michal Haratyk and Konrad Bukowiecki.
A total of 1000 spectators will be able to attend the event. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman